Test-retest repeatability of the National Animal Health monitoring system dairy heifer health report in New York and Pennsylvania, USA

We did a test-retest study on 21 farms to assess the repeatability of the Dairy Heifer Health Report of the National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project. The median retest interval was 42 days (range 14–63 days), retest interviewers were blinded as to responses on the first visits, and all date-specific...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Preventive veterinary medicine 1996, Vol.25 (3), p.291-300
Main Authors: Erb, H.N., Heinrichs, A.J., Woods, R.E., Sischo, W.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANIMAL HEALTH
COLLECTE DE DONNEES
CONTROLE CONTINU
Dairy
DATA COLLECTION
GENISSE
Heifer
HEIFERS
Interview
MONITORING
NEW YORK
NOVILLA
NUEVA YORK
PENNSYLVANIA
PENNSYLVANIE
Questionnaire
RECOLECCION DE DATOS
Repeatability
SANIDAD ANIMAL
SANTE ANIMALE
VIGILANCIA
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Summary:We did a test-retest study on 21 farms to assess the repeatability of the Dairy Heifer Health Report of the National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project. The median retest interval was 42 days (range 14–63 days), retest interviewers were blinded as to responses on the first visits, and all date-specific questions were anchored to the dates of the first tests. The overall discrepancy percentage was 8.5% (95% CI 8.0–9.0). Individual farms had discrepancy percentages of 3.0–15.2%; 240 out of the 539 questions had no discrepancies at all, but 81 questions had more than four (out of 21 possible) discrepancies (lowest percentages among the 81: 24%; 95% lower confidence limit on 24%: 6%). Combining ‘no’ and ‘not applicable’ responses for six similarly worded questions in the Biosecurity section would reduce the overall questionnaire discrepancy percentage to 7.8% and would bring that section's discrepancy percentage down to 8.6%. The other discrepancy percentages by section were: Maternity Hygiene, 14.1 %; Preweaning Hygiene, 4.8%; Disease Agents, 3.6%; Vaccination Practices, 12.1%; Preventive Practices, 16.8%. Discrepancy percentages did not differ importantly by type of question (independent, filter, or subordinate) or by type of response required (categorical, count, or measurement). Discrepancy percentages were independent of retest interviewer, test-retest interval and order of test within state (a proxy for time since training of the interviewers) but were correlated with herd size ( r sp = 0.59).
ISSN:0167-5877
1873-1716
DOI:10.1016/0167-5877(95)00506-4